Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD75-A Review

The Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD75-A is an older model, but it is still one of the most popular home dehydrators on the market. It works well for average to moderate users, and it’s a great starter machine for beginners.

One drawback is that it does not have an automated timer – but then, that also makes it much less expensive than its leading competitor.

With 600 Watts and an adjustable thermostat, this 5 tray dehydrator is capable of processing just about anything you want, including meats, fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, or craft items. It has earned over 3,000 top ratings (4 & 5 stars) from owners, and it can be an excellent option for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Features

The Nesco Snackmaster Pro FD75-A has 3 key features that produce better results in less time: a top-mounted fan, a unique air flow system, and an adjustable temperature control.

Top-Mounted Fan

The top-mounted fan plays a significant role in producing more uniform drying. It also makes clean up easier because it eliminates the possibility of crumbs or drippy foods such as jerky falling onto the fan or heating elements.

Air Flow System

Nesco has a patented air flow system called “Converga-Flow”. The fan forces air down the sides of the chamber. This air then travels horizontally across the individual trays to converge in the center. The result is faster, more even drying without having to constantly rearrange the trays during the drying process. It also helps keep flavors from mixing.

Adjustable Temperature Control

For a successful drying experience with a variety of foods, an adjustable temperature control is a must-have feature. If you’re making jerky you’ll need a higher temperature. Drying herbs or other delicate foods or even some craft items may required a much lower temperature to avoid scorching or nutrient damage. To get the most use and best results, you definitely want a dehydrator that gives you the freedom to adjust the temperature to an appropriate level.

The only drawback I found with this model is that it does NOT have a timer. Who wants to have to get up at 3:00 am to shut it off? Or, imagine explaining to your boss that you need an hour off to run home and turn off your dehydrator. Fortunately, there’s an easy and inexpensive solution – just buy an electrical outlet timer. They’re available at your local hardware store and, of course, online.

Of course, the need for a timer depends on your use and your lifestyle. Some people consider it a non-issue because scheduling isn’t a problem, and by nature drying can sometimes be a “testing” process. Even with good drying guidelines, you will want to check your foods to be sure they have reached the appropriate drying stage, then determine whether to stop or continue drying.

What? No Timer! If the lack of a timer is a deal breaker for you, check out these alternatives:

For high end models with timers see our reviews of the Excalibur 3926TB (older model but still a top seller) and the Excalibur 3948CDB (newer 9-tray digital model with clear door).

One other point worth mentioning is that this model does not have an On/Off switch. You have to unplug the machine to turn it off. Unlike some people, I don’t have a problem with that. Like a lot of kitchen appliances, it has a very short cord, so you have to place it close to a convenient electrical outlet. That short cord design is a safety feature. My George Foreman grill is built the same way, and to me, unplugging it after use isn’t a big deal. However, if you plan to use an extension cord, or if you just really want an on off switch, an easy solution is to buy a wireless remote wall outlet. (There is actually an added energy saving bonus to those outlets. Click here to read more.)

Specifications of Model FD75-A

Wattage & Voltage

Wattage: 600 Watts

Voltage: 110V – To our knowledge, Nesco does not make a 220 Volt food dehydrator. (If you find evidence to the contrary, please let us know!)

Materials & Color

This food dehydrator is made of hard plastic in a speckled (or marbled) gray color that blends well with surrounding décor. The opaque Vita-Save exterior is designe to help block harmful lights so that you will retain more of the nutrients and vitamins in your dried foods.

Size & Capacity

Optionally, additional trays can be purchased to increase capacity. This Nesco model is designed to work with up to a total of 12 trays. Obviously, the more trays you stack, the taller the unit will be, so consider how much room you have before you order extra trays.

These trays are sold in packs of 2 and are very reasonably priced. Click the image at right to check Amazon’s current price.

(Note that the trays have a hole in the center. This is required to accommodate the air flow system, but it also slightly reduces the total drying space available.)

Other Details

The manufacturer’s website displays a “Made in USA” symbol on this product, but several online reviewers state that it is stamped “Made in China” underneath the lid. So, which is it?

I contacted the manufacturer for clarification, and in an email dated March 4, 2014 Nesco Customer Service stated that the unit is made in the USA of USA and foreign components. To quote their email:

“The motor is made in China, everything else is made & assembled here in WI.
The whole unit is BPA free.”

What’s Included with the Snackmaster Pro?

2 Clean-A-Screens™

2 Fruit Roll Sheets

3 Packs Original Jerky Spice

Recipe & Instruction Book

Clean-A-Screens™ are reusable inserts that are made of flexible, plastic mesh. These inserts allow you to dry very small foods that would otherwise fall through the tray openings (such as herbs, finely chopped veggies, cooked rice, etc.).

These inserts will also save you some time when drying is complete because…

It’s easier to peel sticky foods like pineapple off of the flexible sheets.

You can even bend the inserts enough to “pour” foods like finely chopped dried onions into a container.

Fruit Roll Sheets are solid trays used to make fruit “leather”, but they have other uses too:

The no-spill lip allows you to dry soups, sauces, and other liquids.

When making jerky or other messy foods that drip, use one of these solid sheets on the bottom (empty) tray to catch drippings and make cleanup easier.

Optional Accessories for this Food Dehydrator

Customer Reviews

As of the latest update to this review (June, 2018), there are close to 3,500 customer reviews online. The only major complaint is that the dehydrator lacks a timer. Yet despite that drawback, the vast majority of customers give this model rave reviews. The combination of a circulating fan and adjustable temperature gauge enables you to dry various kinds of foods successfully without having to constantly babysit the unit or rearrange trays, and without damaging delicate items or destroying nutrients.

Cons

Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator Review: Summary

This is a good food dehydrator for the average to moderate user, as well as for “beginners”. At 600 Watts, it will dry foods in hours, not days, and the adjustable temperature control allows you to process a wide variety of foods or even flowers or craft items. This model carries a 1 year limited warranty and sells for considerably less than leading brand names. Overall, the Nesco FD75-A offers excellent value for the price.

Comments

I just started dehydrating…I have this unit and added a $4.47 timer and I’m so happy! I have been using it for a couple of weeks and have used it for nuts, raw vegan burgers, fruit and herbs. So far, excellent results.

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